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00031 Erickson Christian Theology Part 3.Pdf The Role of the Church The Functions of the Church Evangelism Edification Worship Social Concern The Heart of the Ministry of the Church: The Gospel The Character of the Church Willingness to Serve Adaptability We have voiced criticism of the position that the church is to be defined in terms of its functions, that is, that its form is to follow from its functions. Nonetheless, the functions of the church are very important topics, for the church was not brought into being by our Lord simply to exist as an end in itself. Rather, it was brought into being to fulhl the Lords intention for it. It is to carry on the Lords ministry in the world- to perpetuate what he did and to do what he would do were he still here. Our first consideration in this chapter will be the various functions which the church is charged with carrying out.1 Then we will look at what is at 1. J. C. Hoekendijk, The Church Inside Out (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1966), part 1. 1051 1052 The Church The Role of the Church 1053 the heart of the ministry of the church and gives form to all that the Jerusalem was, of course, the immediate vicinity. While it was not the church does, namely, the gospel. Finally, we will look at two qualities home territory of the inner circle of disciples (they were Galileans), it was which it is particularly important for the church to display at the present the site of Pentecost. Since the first converts would have many close time-willingness to serve and adaptability. contacts in Jerusalem, it was natural for the church to witness and grow there. Jerusalem was also the most difficult place to witness, however, for The Functions of the Church it was there that the scandal in connection with the events of Christ’s last days, and especially his humiliating death by crucifixion, had occurred. There would be a natural distrust of and perhaps even revulsion against Evangelism any presentation of the message of the Savior. On the other hand, one The one topic emphasized in both accounts of Jesus’ last words to his advantage of witnessing in Jerusalem was that the people lived close disciples is evangelism. In Matthew 28119 he instructs them, “Go therefore enough to each other to unite into one congregation if they chose to and make disciples of all nations.” In Acts 1:8 he says, “But you shall do so. receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall Beyond Jerusalem, the disciples were to be witnesses in “all Judea.” be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the This area was basically homogeneous in its thinking and customs, for its end of the earth.” This was the final point Jesus made to his disciples. It inhabitants were Jews, and Judean Jews at that. Yet most of them were appears that he regarded evangelism as the very reason for their being. too far removed from the center in Jerusalem to gather there. Conse- The call to evangelize is a command. Having accepted Jesus as Lord, quently, fulhlrnent of this part of the commission would result in the the disciples had brought themselves under his rule and were obligated establishment of additional congregations. to do whatever he asked. For he had said, “If you love me, you will keep Perhaps the most distasteful part of the commission, at least as far as my commandments” (John 14: 15); “He who has my commandments and the disciples were concerned, was the third part-“in Samaria.” This took keeps them, he it is who loves me” (v. 21a); and ‘You are my friends if them to the people whom they found most d&cult to love, and who you do what I command you” (John 1514). If the disciples truly loved would probably be least receptive to their message in that it would be their Lord, they would carry out his call to evangelize. It was not an brought by Jews. The Jews and the Samaritans had been engaged in optional matter for them. conflict for a long time. The friction dated back to the time of the Jews’ The disciples were not sent out merely in their own strength, however. return from the Babylonian captivity. Samaritans were half-breed Jews Jesus prefaced his commission with the statement, “KU authority in who represented the intermarriage of the Israelites left behind by the heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt. 28:18). Having all Assyrians and various foreign colonists whom the Assyrians then sent in authority, he commissioned the disciples as his agents. Thus they had the to help repopulate the area. When the Jews returned from Babylon and right to go and evangelize all nations. Further, Jesus promised his disci- began to rebuild the temple, the Samaritans offered to help, but their ples that the Holy Spirit would come upon them and that they would offer was spurned. From that time on, there was friction between the consequently receive power. So they were both authorized and enabled two groups. This is evident in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ ministry. for the task. Moreover, they were assured that he was not sending them When Jesus asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water, she re- off on their own. Although he was to be taken from them bodily, he sponded, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of would nonetheless be with them spiritually to the very end of the age Samaria?” John comments, “For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (Matt. 28:20). (John 4:9). This was an unusual encounter, for Jesus and his disciples did Note also the extent of the commission: it is all-inclusive. In Matthew not ordinarily pass through Samaria, preferring rather to cross over the 28:19 Jesus speaks of “all nations,” and in Acts 1:8 he gives a specific Jordan River and travel through Perea in their journeys between Galilee enumeration: “You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea in the north and Judea in the south. Jesus lent additional force to his and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” Differing issues are involved parable about loving one’s neighbor by making the hero of it a Samaritan at the various levels of this command:* (Luke 10:29-37). The Jews meant to insult Jesus when they asked, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 2. Michael Green, Evangelism in the Early Church (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970), (John 8:48). It is likely that the former taunt (to which Jesus did not reply) vol. 1) pp. I 17B. was intended to be the more humiliating of the two. Surely the Samari- 1054 The Church The Role of the Church 1055 tans were the people whom the Jews would have least liked to see controversial gifts is mentioned again, in varying ways, in verses 12, 17, included in the church with them, yet Jesus said, “You shall be my and 26. The last of these references sums up the matter: “Let all things witnesses in. Samaria.” be done for edification.” Note that edification is mutual upbuilding by all Finally, the disciples were to bear witness “to the end of the earth.” the members of the body. It is not merely the minister or pastor who is There was no geographical restriction upon the commission. They were to build up the other members. to take the gospel message everywhere, to all nations and every type of There are several means by which members of the church are to be people. They could not, of course, accomplish this on their own. Rather, edified. One of them is fellowship.3 The New Testament speaks of as they won converts, those converts would in turn evangelize yet others. KOtvWvh, literally, a having or holding all things in common. And indeed, Thus the message would spread in ever widening circles, and the task according to Acts 5, the members of the early church held even all their would eventually be completed. material possessions in common. Paul speaks of sharing one another’s Therefore, if the church is to be faithful to its Lord and bring joy to his experiences: “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member heart, it must be engaged in bringing the gospel to all people. This is honored, all rejoice together” (1 Cor. 12:26). While hurt is reduced, joy involves going to people whom we like and people whom we may by is increased by being shared. We are to encourage and sympathize with nature tend to dislike. It extends to those who are unlike us. And it goes each other. Believers are to bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2). On beyond our immediate sphere of contact and influence. In a very real occasion this may entail correction and rebuke, which should be admin- sense, local evangelism, church extension or church planting, and world istered lovingly. Jesus laid down a pattern for discipline in Matthew missions are all the same thing. The only difference lies in the length of 18: 1.5-l 7. In severe cases, there may even be a need for excommunication the radius. The church must work in all of these areas. If it does not, it from the group, as in the case of the immoral man mentioned in 1 Cor- will become spiritually ill, for it will be attempting to function in a way its inthians 51-2.
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